Joseph,
Ever feel like you could use some good news? Here are 5 things to brighten up your day. These five stories from the SumOfUs community made me proud, happy, and brought tears to my eyes. Most of all, they reminded me of the one simple reason I started this organisation: when we work together we are powerful.
When a fresh corporate scandal hits the headlines, it’s easy to forget the difference we make every day. This email is designed to remind you, and to say THANK YOU for standing with us as we take on some of the biggest corporations in the world.
1. Máxima
Peruvian farmer Maxima Acuna made a brave decision five years ago that Newmont mining would not take her land to build a giant copper mine.
The SumOfUs community knew we had to stand with her.160,000 of us joined the campaign to protect her land, and we donated tens of thousands of dollars protect her from lawsuits from Newmont, and threats by the company's security forces.
The good news: Newmont has backed down -- for now. It has dropped its plans to put a gold and copper mine on Maxima’s land. But unfortunately, Maxima’s safety is still under threat. We’re going to keep fighting until Newmont cancels its plans for the mine and ends its harassment -- for good.
2. Seaworld
Forcing large, intelligent animals to live in small underwater cages for profit is unethical. But that’s exactly what Seaworld has done for years, keeping Orcas and marine mammals in captivity for entertainment.
Millions of SumOfUs members sent a clear message to SeaWorld that they won't pay to watch animal cruelty in action.And last month they listened: SeaWorld announced it will stop breeding orcas last month.
3. Palm oil
Indonesia is burning. Its beautiful rainforests are being ravaged by forest fires, deliberately set to clear the way for palm oil plantations.
SumOfUs members have sent a clear message to food giants that we won’t let them profit from deforestation.
And we are having a real impact. Starbucks announced a new policy on palm oil only hours after SumOfUs members held a protest outside the first ever Starbucks in Seattle. And SumOfUs members are keeping up the pressure on Unilever and PepsiCo.
We’re having success with our palm oil campaigns, but this industry is huge and we’ll be keeping up the pressure to make sure that all palm oil is responsibly sourced.
We won't rest until all big food companies source conflict-free palm oil.
4. WestJet
SumOfUs campaigners were alerted to a flight attendant who was fired by WestJet Airlines for speaking out about a pilot who sexually assaulted her. When Mandalena “Mandy” Lewis launched a lawsuit against WestJet, we launched a campaign calling for the company to change its ways and for CEO Greg Saretsky to resign.
Together we made a lot of national headlines. After 30,000 of us signed petitions and SumOfUs members held a protest at Vancouver International airport, eight more women who were sexually harassed at WestJet were brave enough to come forward. The company has taken notice: it just hired independent auditors to review their sexual assault policies.
But there’s more work to do to ensure that all staff at Westjet can work free of sexual harassment.
5. Airbnb
When SumOfUs members learned that Airbnb was listing holiday homes to rent in the occupied West Bank, 140,000 spoke up to get the company to stop breaking the law.
When I saw photos of SumOfUs members from all around the world at Airbnb offices, I realised our community is now so big and powerful it can match the reach of the world’s most powerful corporations.
Airbnb haven’t budged yet, so we’re going to keep the pressure building on them. Watch this space.
And you can help make sure it happens.
I hope this email has brightened your day like it did mine when I sat down to write it. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all that you do, it gives me hope and energy every day.
Taren
SumOfUs is a worldwide movement of people like you, working together to hold corporations accountable for their actions and forge a new, sustainable path for our global economy. Please help keep SumOfUs strong by chipping in CA$3 or become a SumOfUs core member with a regular monthly donation.
Have a great idea for a SumOfUs campaign? Start your own petition and the best ones could be emailed to the whole SumOfUs community. |
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